Patrick James Saunders

Waunakee -- Patrick J. Saunders, age 52, passed away on Monday, February 15, 2010, at UW Hospital in Madison. He was born on July 15, 1957 in Fort Atkinson, WI, the son of Richard and Donna (Meseberg) Saunders. Patrick graduated from Edgewood HS in 1975, and received a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from UW Madison in 1989. He worked at Giddings & Lewis in Fond du Lac as an electrical test engineer and also as a production manager at GeneSys Technologies in Mazomanie developing instruments for DNA testing and analysis. Patrick was an innovator in the advancement of laboratory automation and robotics. He later became a Reliability Engineer at Tomotherapy, Inc. in Madison, dealing in their advanced Radiation Therapy system for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers.

Patrick was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved golfing and poker, and enjoyed puzzles of all kinds. He was a Cub Scout leader for 10 years. Patrick was involved in the Faith Formation program for many years at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Waunakee and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Patrick set an exemplary example as a husband, father and uncle. He was spiritually strong and compassionate, and had a clever sense of humor. Above all, Patrick loved and cherished his family and friends, and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew this wonderful man. Even though he has gone from this world in to the arms of God in heaven, his love remains forever in our hearts.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Julie Saunders, and sons, Adam and Zachary of Waunakee; his parents, Richard and Donna Saunders of Mazomanie; brothers, Myk Saunders of Madison, WI and Timothy Saunders of Edgerton WI; sisters, Marie (Dean Hiracheta) Saunders of Apple Valley, MN, Kathy (Robert) Brumley of Mazomanie, MN and Sara Saunders of Maple Grove, MN; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH, 209 South St., Waunakee, on Friday, February 19, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. with Monsignor James Gunn officiating. Burial will follow at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Waunakee. Visitation will be held at ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH, 209 South St., Waunakee, on Thursday, February 18, 2010, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and again at church on Friday, February 19, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass.

Submitted is a poem that Patrick wrote in 8^th grade:

""Thanks""

Thank you Jesus for being real
Thank you for a love I can feel
Thank you for always being there
Thank you for letting me know you care
Thank you for every blessing you give
Thank you for every moment I live
Thank you Jesus for dying for me
Thank you for setting me free